Improving Sports Facilities

Sport forms an important part of school life and Lady Manners School has an excellent sporting reputation. Throughout the school sport helps to develop social skills and confidence in all students, whatever their ability. Rugby, netball, athletics, dance, football, hockey, table tennis, badminton and basketball are all a part of what we offer.

Many of our students also play sport outside school, with the many local clubs which thrive in and around Bakewell. Some of these clubs work with school to make use of our facilities in order to provide or extend the facilities they can offer their members. There is a need to develop our current sports facilities in order to continue to provide the best opportunities for our students and for the local community.

The Proposals

We have embarked on a project to develop our current sports facilities even further. We have already restored the school’s historic sports pavilion; work which was made possible by generous funding from the school’s Parents’ Association.

The next step is to provide a flood-lit, all weather pitch suitable for hockey, football and a training surface for aspects of other sports, like rugby.

Sale of Land

The school’s plans have developed alongside the District Council local housing need survey which, in 2015, identified 119 households with a strong local connection to Bakewell in need of affordable housing. The District Council identified the school’s site following extensive site appraisal work undertaken with Bakewell Town Council and planning experts from the Peak District National Park Authority.

Westleigh Partnership hopes to build 30 new affordable homes for people with a strong local connection to Bakewell or an adjoining parish on part of the school’s land, most of which is currently not utilised. This section of land is where the old buildings, known as ’Highfields’, are situated which were taken out of use several years ago and are due to be demolished.

The image below shows the position of proposed changes.

Improved Facilities for All

The intention is to improve sports facilities for Lady Manners School and the whole community as well as to provide much needed affordable housing in Bakewell. The new all weather pitch could be used by the school, sports clubs and the local community.

Lady Manners School, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Derbyshire County Council, Westleigh Partnership, Pelham Architects, Dales Housing and other partners are all working together on this project.

Further information

Affordable homes:

Affordable homes are advertised on the District Council’s lettings scheme Home-Options. Only those registered are able to express an interest. To register for housing or to find out more visit www.home-options.org